THE PASSING OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3909, 21 February 1929, Page 3

THE PASSING OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

BIR CHARLES SKERiRETT DIES - AT SEA. Wellington, Yesterday. Advice was received by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) yesterday morning of the death at sea on February, ,13 of tbo Chief Justice, Sir Charles Skerrett, K.0.M.G., K.C. The Prime Minister stated that lie had received a telegralm on Mopday from the High Commissioner in Londop expressing his sincere sympathy in the death of Sir Charles Skerrett, and as that was the first intimation which had come to hand of the sad news,' which he bad been unable to confirm by inquiries of the iatc Chief Justice’s friends in the City, he dispatched an urgent message to Sir James Parr asking him for the source of his information. The reply, which was received yesterday morning, stated that the High Commissioner had received a wireless message, via Los Angeles, from the captain of the Port Denison, to the effect that Sir Charles Skerrett had died at sea on February 13, following cerebral haemorrhage on the previous day, and that the relatives had arranged for the body to be taken to London. By the death of the la'Sir Charles Perrin Skerrett, C.’ $f Justice, the Dominion has lost judge, and Bench and Bar, a distinguished ornament. Some months ago he had undergone a serious operation, involving the amputation of a leg. A lengthy period of rallying followed. Then, when j.t was thought all was well, the malady from which Sir Charles was suffering was found to have spread to the other leg, so the amputation of that limb also became imperative. iSucli was his iron constitution and strength oi will that he fought back the shock, and after a further lengthy period of convalescence, was considered well enough to go on a sea voyage. It was while on board the Port Denison, bound for England, that Sir 'Charles died. His death was quite unexpected, for, when lie left Wellington, he appeared bright and cheerful, and looked forward with confidence to resuming his seat on the Supreme Court {Bench on his return. Born in India on September 2, 1803, the son of Peter Perrin, Skerrett and Margaret Skerrett, the future Chief Justice was brought to New Zealand when still but a boy. His first position was that of a telegraph messenger. Later fie became a clerk in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court. He left the Magistrate’s Court to be articled to the late Mr. Hugh Gully, of the firm of Messrs Buller and Gully, barristers and solicitors of this city, and in 1884 lie was admitted a barrister and solicitor of 'the Supreme Court. He quickly gained for himself a reputation as a powerful pleader. When the dignity of King’s -Counsel was created in New Zealand in 1907, he was one of the first on whom it was conferred. From 1893 he was eagerly sought after in important eases, and his fame and reputation steadily grew. On his first appearance in 1904, in several eases before the Privy Council his unusual ability was immediately recognised and his manner of conducting his case and presenting his arguments was the subject of high complement from their Lordships. For many years before his appointment as Chief Justice scarcely any ease of importance came before the New Zealand Court of Appeal in which he was not engaged.

Wlheu, on the retirement of Sir Robert Stout, in 1925, Sir 'Charles Skerrett, was appointed Chief Justice, the appointment was approved heartily by the Bench, the Bar, and the general public. SYMPATHY IN LONDON. The following telegram has been received by the Prime Minister from the High Comjmissioner for New Zealand in London j “Have learned w ith deepest regret of the death of the Chief Justice. All New Zealand residents here deplore liis comparatively early death and irrpara’ble loss that the Supreme Court Bench and the Dominion -generally have suffered.” Sir Charles Skerrett was accompanied on his trip Home'by one of his sisters, Miss Mary Skerrett. Two other sisters —Mrs. James Conchie and Miss J. Skerrett, resido in London. Another sister, Mrs. Compton, resides in the Argentine, and a brother, Mr. K. Skerrett, is on the land in the Argentine.